How to Decide Which Career Is Right For You

Take time considering your options.

If you're still deciding what you want to be when you grow up, you're not the only one. In fact, it's common for many people to have more than one career over the course of a lifetime. Whether you're about to finish college or you're mid-career and thinking about making a change, it's never too late to do what you want.

Things You'll Need

• Online access
• Determination
• A basic idea of what you would like to do

Instructions

1. Take the time to do a real evaluation of yourself, your interests and your skills. This might not be something you do in one day, but something you do over time. Ask yourself what you're truly good at and what ideas or areas draw you. Is there something you like to read about? You may discover that you have interests and skills that you can easily translate into another field of study you've never though of.

2. Think about your values and your working style. If you value helping other people and it's essential that you work closely with people, you may consider a career in social work or medicine. But if you prefer to spend time on your own and you value privacy, there are plenty of career options for introverts. Accounting, research and writing are all career fields for people who value their solo time.

3. Take a career assessment test such as Holland's Self-Directed Search or the True Colors test. Many of these career assessment tests can be found online, some of them are free and some of them require fees. Don't rely on just one test, but take more than one because results vary. Don't rely on just testing, but use these tests as a way to help you get thinking about what your interests are and what you may value in a career. You may even consider a career counselor who can help direct you on a path and draw out your interests.

4. Learn about different fields. Go to the library and conduct some research. Talk to people with the jobs you may be interested in. Get an internship or volunteer to help you decide if this interest is one you want to pursue. Consider if you'll need any additional training or education to do what you want to do and how long that will take. See if there are alternatives that don't require the time commitments that getting a new degree may require.

References

• U.S. News & World Report; How to Choose a Career That's Best For You; Tim Tyrell Smith
• Boston College: Choosing a Career or a Major
• "What Color Is Your Parachute?": Richard N. Bolles